Steering mechanism for vessels.



F. V. MEDYNSKI.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR VESSELS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1917.

1,288,106, Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

ea PA FRED v. MEDYNSKI, or MEnronn-onEGon.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR VESSELS.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, FRED V. MEDY-NSKI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medford, in the county of Jackson and State of Oregon, have invented certain'new: and useful Improvements in Steering Mechanisms for Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates. to an improved steering mechanism for vessels and has as its primary object to provide a construction whereby a vessel may, if necessary, be steered independently of the rudder or wherein the mechanism may be operatedfor holding the vessel to the wind for keeping the vessel out of the trough of the sea.

The invention has as a further object to provide a construction wherein the vessel may be readily swung in either one direction or the other for guiding the vessel into a berthor alongside of a wharf.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the mechanism may be independently operated under its own power and also wherein the said mechanism may be easily controlled from the bridge or pilot-house of the vessel along with the other steering mechanism of the vessel.

Andthe invention has as a still further object to provide a device which will be simple, durable and thoroughly practical in actual use and wherein the working parts of the device will be easily accessible. 7

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a plan view of the stern of a conventional type of vessel partly broken away to show the construction and mount- 7 mg of my improved steering device, the tube forming a water passage through the vessel being shown in sectlon, and

Fig. 2 is a fra mentary side view showing the location of t e water passage tube with respect to the water line of the'vessel,

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 's 3 ofFig. 1.

in order that the construction, mounting and operation of my .improved steering device may be readily understood, I have, in

the drawings, shown the device in connecpro"ed steering device.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7 Patgnted De@ 1'? 1918 Application filed June 12, 1917. Serial n. 174,329.

tion with the stern of a conventional type of 'vessel 10, the main deck and other portions of which have been. broken away to show Coming now more particularly to vessel to open through the sides thereof.

This tube provides a water passage 13 extending through the vessel and is preferably arranged slightly above the level of the main engine room floor 11 at the rear of the said room. The ends of the tube will thus, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, open through the sides of the vessel at points well below the water line thereof and may be 21 1 ranged either above or below the main pro peller shaft of the said vessel. If desired, the lower part of the afterb-ulk-head of the vessel represented at 23 in Fig. 3 may be formed to fit around the tube 12 as indicated at 2% in Fig. 3 so that thesaid tube maybe arranged therein and thus avoid taking up extra room while atv the same time the walls of the bulk-head will brace the said tube to make it practically as rigid as the sides of the'vessel. Intermediate its ends, the tube 12- is formed with a longitudinally bowed portion 14 and arranged over the ends of the tube at the. sides of the vessel are suitable screens 15 adapted to prevent foreign matter from entering the tube.

Mounted upon the floor 11 of the main engine room of the vessel within the bow 14: of the tube 12 is the motor 16 of my im This motor is entirely independent of the engines of the ves sel and is to be controlled from the pilothouse or the bridge of the vessel where the other steering control mechanism of the vessel is located. The motor 16 may be of any approved type, such as an electric motor or steam engine.

Extending in opposite directions from the motor 16 is a drive shaft 17 and it isv now to be noted that since the motor 16 is arranged within the bOV'l4 of the tube 12, this shaft projects through the adjacent side of the said tube adjacent its extremities to terminate axially of the open endsthereof. This provides a very simple arrangement whereby the motor 16 may be mounted within the main engine room of the vessel while at the same time the drive shaft of the motor will be disposed to support the propellers 0f the mechanism in proper position within the open ends of the tube 12. Mounted upon opposite ends of the shaft are propellers 18. These propellers may be of any approved type, and are arranged to force the water in the same direction. Surrounding the shaft 17 at the points Where the said shaft enters through the tube 12 are packing glands 19, and interposed in the said shaft at opposite sides of the motor 16 are couplings 20 providing thrust bearings for the said shaft. Consequently, the motor may, by releasing the said couplings, be removed at any time desired .without the necessity for displacing the extremities of the shaft from the tube. At the same time, the said couplings will normally receive the thrust from the propellers. Supporting the shaft at its outer extremities are bearings 21 arranged axially of the opencends of the tube 12 and connected with the tube by a plurality of radial arms 22 extending from the said bearings and secured to the wall of the tube.

It will now be noted that should the rudder or other parts of the service steering mechanism of the vessel become disabled, my improved device may, by properly controlling the motor 16, be operated for steering the vessel. Forward rotation of the shaft 17 will cause one propeller to draw in water through the tube 12 while at the same time the other propeller will act to expel the water from the tube for swinging the vessel in one direction. Reverse rotation of the shaft 17 will, of course, swing the vessel in the opposite direction. When the vessel is thus guided the Water will be permitted to freely flow through the passage 13 of the tube '12, owing to the fact that the said passage is unobstructed for the major portion of its length and is of uniform diameter from end to end thereof. Any tendency toward the creation of an eddy within the said tube will thus be reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, it will be observed that the mechanism may we readily operated for quickly guiding the vessel into walls of the bulkhead bear around the sides of the "tube and said a berth or alongside a Wharf or in the case of a heavy storm, may be operated for holda particularly efficient construction for the,

purposes set forth, and in this connection attention is directed to the fact that the mechanism is exceedingly simple While at the same time all of the parts thereof are readily accessible. This is an important feature in a device of the present character and proves a determining factor in the practicability thereof. Furthermore, it will be seen that the-tube 12 may be arranged to extend longitudinally of the vessel when the mechanism would be operable for propelling the vessel either forward or backward. Also the said tube could be arranged vertically within the yessel to open through one side thereof at points below the Water line when the mechanism would be operable for guiding the vessel. Such variations are contemplated by the present invention and 1 do not therefore wish to be limited to the particular disposition of the Water passage tube withinthe vessel.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: y y j 1; In a ship including theexterior walls and a bulkhead, of a tube extending through the ship and inclosed Within the bulkhead and supported thereby, said tube opening through said exterior walls, and means for inducing the water to flow through the tube.

2. in a ship including the exterior walls and a bulkhead, of a tube extending through the ship and inclosed Within the Walls of the bulkhead and supported thereby, the being distended to tube opening through said exterior Walls, and means for inducing the water to flow through the tube.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

riunnrusitr. [1,. s] 

